The Omen reviewed

Aintitcoolnews, "I just saw an almost-locked cut of the OMEN remake. They are still reshaping some minor things, like the news footage you see in the trailer (which features some which aren't in the movie and vice versa) and they change the timing of some death scenes and other stuff, but basically the movie is finished except sound mixing and color grading.

What can I say? It is kinda hard to review as you will see it differently depending whether you know the original or not. It is more or less a 1:1 remake, not shot by shot like the dreadful PSYCHO, but they kinda used the original screenplay with some minor updates and some FINAL CONFLICT moments thrown into the mix, probably for a planned sequel (i.e. skipping DAMIEN and going right into a FINAL CONFLICT storyline).

So if you haven't seen the original, which probably no one of the targeted teen audience has you may like the movie a lot... but maybe they just see it as a FINAL DESTINATION rip off, just less gory and less wild chain reactions (in fact there are almost none chain reaction, except the Ambassador scene). In a way I had the feeling the movie isn't sure about whether it wants to play with the deaths or not... some are just quick, some are more chain reactions, but overall they all fall way short compared to Final Destination.

If you have seen the original then there is little to it... overall it is very well made, the photography is awesome, I like all the actors, the new beheading scene is way cool, so there is at least a remake which works and doesn't insult or runs away with a PG-13 rating. The original may be more bloody but the impaling and beheading is worth the movie and an r-rating...

I'd say it is like the KING KONG remake... very well done, looking great, never boring, but ultimately unecessary as it doesn't bring anything new to the story. But I guess it will do well and if so, I think the sequels could be pretty cool.

And for those who are afraid John Moore brought his frantic editing style from BEHIND ENEMY LINES with him, let me assure he tells the story wihtout any Michael-Bayisms!"

'Snakes on a Plane' sssssssays it all

By Susan Wloszczyna, USA TODAY

There are snakes, 500 or so, from 5-inch vipers to a 20-foot python. There is a plane, a 747 going from Honolulu to L.A. with a witness who will testify against a mobster. But don't let the title Snakes on a Plane, as bluntly descriptive and irresistably trashy as a Cosmo come-on, overshadow who really is propelling this venomous vessel. The most valuable carry-on in the Aug. 18 thriller, a pre-release sensation thanks to Internet connoisseurs of junk-food cinema, is Shaft himself. The one and only Coach Carter. That holy terror of Pulp Fiction— Samuel L. Jackson.

What other summer star has the right cool insouciance and simmering rage to make this creepy-crawler worth its weight in reptile carnage? "The fans are going to love seeing Sam in this role," says Snakes director David R. Ellis of his human lead. He also has been a hero offscreen, deflecting any suggestion to switch the stupidly smart title to a generic disaster like Pacific Flight 121.

"The title was what got my attention," says Jackson, who plays the FBI agent protecting the witness. "I got on the set one day and heard they changed it, and I said, 'What are you doing here? It's not Gone with the Wind. It's not On the Waterfront. It's Snakes on a Plane!' They were afraid it gave too much away, and I said, "That's exactly what you should do. When audiences hear it, they say, 'We are there!' "

Jackson, in his first interview since the Snakes craze went national, has tracked activity on such sites as Snakes on a Blog — the homemade trailers, the suggested soundtrack tunes, the gently mocking T-shirts. Most intriguing, however, have been the fake movie posters.

"It's interesting how they perceive you as an actor," Jackson says. "A whole faction thinks that I'm a bad (guy). I just happen to be in those kinds of films. I like to do sensitive movies, but they ignore those."

Additional scenes were shot in March with more gore, nudity and profanity so the PG-13 rating would become an R, the better to satisfy fan expectations. Best of all, Jackson gets to say his trademark obscenity in the new line: "I'm tired of these (bleeper-bleeping) snakes on this (bleeper-bleeping) plane."

No surprise that this tough bleeper isn't afraid of snakes. "I grew up in the country. If we saw a snake, the snake was in more trouble than we were." Nor do planes rattle him.

"I fly way too much to be afraid. I plug in my iPod and fall asleep. My wife is a white-knuckle flier. She will shake me and say, 'Oh, the plane is having turbulence.' I tell her, 'Wake me up when we crash.' "

No future for rama?

I've been catching Futurama on Adult Swim and I've been really enjoying it now that I don't have any expectations. It's actually really funny. I have season 4 on DVD because I never caught any of those episodes when they originally aired.

From, thesimpsonschannel, "In a move that has to be a big disappointment to Futurama fans, voice actor Billy West has recanted his earlier statement that the animated series would be returning with new episodes. On his website West apologized, explaining that he'd been misinformed and that 26 new episodes of the show will not be produced as he'd previously announced.

West added that there is still hope for a Futurama DVD project of some kind, as had been rumored before. We'll be sure to keep you updated on any new word of further Futurama projects."

SAW thrice

From Dark horizons, "Shooting on the third "Saw" film begins May 1st in Toronto for a release this October and casting is currently underway. Today, JoBlo got the lowdown on the two main characters in the film which gives away some story spoilers.

"Two of our new victims are Lynn and Jeff one of whom runs quickly afoul of Jigsaw. Lynn is a married mother in her late 30s who is kidnapped by Jigsaw. As you might expect all is not sunny on Lynn's front who's got some dark secrets she's keeping from her family.

Then there's Jeff, a dad who has never recovered fully after his son died. It was an accident but he's never been able to forgive himself. How he fits into the SAW legacy is being kept a mystery".

Producers are looking for name actors for both of the roles. Darren Bousman is returning to direct the film with a script by Leigh Whannel."

Gamera!

From Aintitcoolnews, "As many of you already know, there will be no more Godzilla films (Final Wars was the last). It's disappointing for the casual fan of the "man-in-suit" genre (like myself), so it must be absolutely crushing for hardcore fans. No doubt, somewhere down the road, our favourite beast will reawaken with a fresh bout of nuclear testing, but for now he's deep in slumber, and we must wait. But, as many of you also know, the big guy's got friends and imitators, and surely the most popular of these is Gamera - the giant turtle with a flying spinning shell and fireballs to spare. Well, that dude has a new movie. It's called "Chiisaki Yuushatachi - Gamera", which is roughly translated as "Gamera: Little Brave Ones". The first thing that must be mentioned about the new Gamera is that it's, as you can probably tell by the title, primarily a kids' movie. This may disappoint some, but, from what I hear, it's a return to the monster's roots ("friend of all children" and all that). It's kind of like E.T. meets, well, Godzilla. Through most of the film, we watch as Gamera is raised by an innocent little boy from a regular-sized turtle to the gargantuan fighting monster he becomes by the film's finale. It's more heartwarming than adrenaline producing. That said, there's still plenty of what you came for: monster-on-monster, man-in- suit, model-crushing action. It opens very well. We find out it's the 1970s, and then we see people running and screaming. Gamera is battling a swarm of Gyaos (Gyaoses?), and anything in the way gets burned or impaled. Before you know it, the bad guys have got the upper hand, and Gamera has no choice but to self-destruct, taking the flying demons with him, and thus saving humanity. Quite fun. The event has a lasting effect on one witness, a little boy who, thirty-odd years later, owns a Chinese restaurant and has a boy of his own. They're an unhappy family, though, as the mother recently passed away, and it's the first summer vacation the boy is spending alone (dad's a bit busy making fried rice for drunk salarymen). Wandering off on his own one day, the boy decides to investigate a strange glinting object he's spotted a few times on a nearby island. It turns out to be an egg. The egg hatches, and out pops a little turtle.

From here, we get all the cute stuff in one block. The boy names the thing Toto, and, with the help of his two best friends from school, and the girl next door (who is sucked into the situation when she spots little Toto flying around the room), raises the turtle while trying to keep it a secret - difficult when it doubles its size every day. Lots of precious moments and drama follow. While this is all going on (boy and father fight, girl has to go to the hospital in Nagoya for an operation, Toto/Gamera gets bigger and cuter), strange things are happening off Japan's coasts. Ships are sinking and seamen are being eaten by an unseen creature. It's actually quite surprising when the monster finally shows its face. Suddenly, in the middle of all the drama, people start running and screaming (bringing bad memories back to dad), and, out of nowhere, a giant lizard-like monster called Jidas starts eating people and destroying things. From here on in, we get the good stuff, and the rest of the film plays like a good-old-fashioned monster movie (but not too hard core - I guess like a Mothra movie). We get to see Jidas smashing crap and impaling things on his sharp, whip-like, extending tongue. We get to see Toto try his hand at fighting for the first time, and discover his powers. Best of all, we get to see Nagoya get totally trashed by the ensuing giant-monster melee. Throughout, we continue following the children and their brave mission to help Gamera (hence the title), but the action takes centre stage for the second half of the film.

The whole thing reminds me very much of other recent monster/robot/ghost movies of late, like Tetsujin 28go, or Yokai Daisenso (The Great Yokai War). If you can get over the fact that it's made with kids, not fanboys, in mind, you'll like it a lot better than if you cringe at the idea of brave little kids forming a human chain between soldiers and a turtle. If, on the other hand, you think all the action in the world wouldn't make up for a single tear rolling down the cheek of a little boy as he says goodbye to his pet, then perhaps you should wait for Godzilla's return.

Chiisaki Yuushatachi - Gamera opens in Japan on April 29th.

Senator Ovaltine (from Tokyo")

New Bond villain is ugly

A Danish newspaper has printed the first picture of the villain of the new Bond film, Le Chiffre. Wisely, the filmmakers have gone with the deadly look of nerdy haircut meets steak knife accident. Isn't the whole villain with a facial scar thing kind of played out at this point? If they want to be both original and scary, they should do something new with his face, like hang a testicle off a cheek. That way, when he's interrogating Bond, he can say, "Surrender, Mr. Bond, or I'll make you touch my facial testicle, which is exactly what it sounds like," to which Bond would reply, "I'd been wondering what was in that miniature velvet sack on your cheek."

Jaws 5, er, MEG

From Iwatchstuff, "Straddling the line between awesome and idiotic, concept art has been released for Meg, a movie about the hunt for an 80-foot, 100,000 pound Megalon shark. Strangely, I have a ballpoint pen version of the same concept in a junior high notebook, except I also had the vision to place a ninja clan on the shark's back, and instead of a surfer, it's going after my parents.

I don't so much wonder what this scene will be in the movie, as much as why this scene isn't in every movie. I can't think of a single film this scene wouldn't add something to, even if that "something" was just an enormous shark eating a surfer. Isn't that enough?"

Sigh.

From USATODAY, "Despite some savage reviews, Scary Movie 4 scared up $41 million at theaters, according to studio estimates from Nielsen EDI. The film spoof took in about $5 million more than many analysts projected and marked the best Easter weekend debut, besting 2002's Panic Room, which opened at $30.1 million.

"We have a formula that works," says Bob Weinstein, co-founder of the Weinstein Co., which released Scary Movie 4. "There are plenty of scary movies to make fun of every year, and pop culture references keep it fresh."

Scary easily topped Ice Age: The Meltdown, which was second with $20 million in its third weekend. The comedy The Benchwarmers was third with $10 million, followed by the animated Disney comedy The Wild, with a disappointing debut of $9.6 million. Final figures are due today."

More on the demise of Star Trek XI

From movies online, "After ten movies, five television shows, and too many novels to count, "Star Trek" has run the gamut of Gene Roddenberry's universe. The last series, "Enterprise," went where no "Trek" has gone before, basing its premise entirely on the original Enterprise and its crew, taking us back in time rather than forward. "Star Trek XI: The Beginning" was primed to follow suit with the series, but with "Enterprise" having fallen far short of hopes attached to it, it is almost a harbinger of trouble for the eleventh "Trek" film.

Writer Erik Jendresen told SyFy Portal that while enthusiasm around the project was high because of the exciting premise, the chance to tell the story behind the events that started the Romulan War, the movie is now stuck in studio limbo. Jendresen does not seem happy about the stall, commenting that they were going to finally cover the untold tale. "We [had] a chance here to fill in the canon, and to create a continuum ostensibly from the beginning from 'Enterprise' all the way out to the future."

The latest installment in the movie franchise was intended to be a trilogy that could be likened to the hype and cult level of the "Star Wars" prequels. The three films were to take place in the chronological gap left between the years 2164 and 2233. It would have followed the ancestor of James T. Kirk, Tiberius Chase, through the Romulan War in all its excessive violence that supposedly would have been too graphic for "Enterprise," which would put Jendresen right in his element since he also wrote "Band of Brothers" for HBO. Also, out of the bloody and horrific war was to emerge the United Federation of Planets.

But, why the past tense? This project is trapped in production stasis, but it is far from being officially dead. Though, Jendresen gives the impression that this may as well be the case. The real status of "Trek XI" rests in the hands of the new command at Paramount. The former co-president of the studio David DeLine had been leading the prequel movement. However, once Jendresen finished the script, there was a new man by the name of Gail Berman steering the ship, leaving "The Beginning" lost in the shuffle. Neither Berman nor Paramount is abandoning the trilogy proposal, but they are trying to explore all their options for the next step made by one of the largest franchises in entertainment history.

The last "Trek" movie to hit theaters, "Nemesis," pulled in $67 million worldwide. Since that was back in 2002 and this is first time in a long time that the franchise can't claim at least one running television show, another "Trek" film is sure to be on its way soon enough. Whether or not it will be "The Beginning" is just too soon to tell. But, the concept of this trilogy is different and significant enough, delving into an untapped region of this universe's history with Kirk's ancestor leading the way, that it may be the smartest way to invigorate the existing fans and beam up some new ones."

Resident Evil Extinction

From Moviesonline, "According to Variety, Sienna Guillory will be back as Jill Valentine in "Resident Evil Extinction". The film will be produced by Germany's Constantin Film and Impact Pictures and directed by Russell Mulcahy. Filming is scheduled to begin in mid-May in Mexicali, Mexico. Milla Jovovich will also be back and star as "Alice" besides Mike Epps, Oded Fehr, and Iain Glen.

There is no official storyline available, due to the fact that the movie still is in pre-production. Its said that "Extinction" (the third part) will be set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun with mutant zombies and will play in the Nevada desert.
Alice is running with a new pack of humans, leading a caravan that's cutting through the Nevada desert on a long trek to Alaska. Hunted by the minions of the perpetually scheming Dr. Isaacs, Alice has zombies hungry for her flesh and lab rats hungry for her blood - while Alice herself is hungry for only one thing: revenge."

A look at that Rocky VI script

Okay, I admit that I'm a sucker for these silly films. I acknowledge that you guys don't care about this film, but in the spirit of following the progress of a film from idea to the first review I'm going to follow this one to the bitter end.

From Darkhorizons, "'Elijah' has sent in this very thorough review and breakdown of the "Rocky Balboa" film script, giving us a glimpse at what we can expect late 2006/early 2007:

"The cover reads "Rocky VI". The title has changed since then, and lets hope this is not the shooting script. I am one of those who didn't necesarily HATE Rocky V. For better or worse, that is pretty much the only direction the story could have gone at that time (supposing one must make a Rocky V). Sure watching Tommy Morrison try to act is enough to give one AIDS (it happened once to a guy I knew), but otherwise its OK. In theory, Rocky V: not a bad idea. So we have Rocky VI. And its really Rocky I and V rolled into one. "Rocky Balboa" in ways is a stand alone film. One could almost watch this with total disregard for the other five movies.

This is really the story of what one does with the rest of their life after their soulmate has died. What does one do when your boy's all grown up, your love is long gone, few friends surround you, and all that's left are stories of who you once were? And for the first half of the script, it is a heavy-handed stroll down memory lane. It mostly consists of Rocky saying "Remember this from Rocky 1? Remember that from Rocky 1?". A reluctant Paulie placates Rocko' as he follows him around visiting all the landmarks of Rocky lore. The good thing is Paulie is still Paulie. If anything, he's got his shit way more together than Rocky does. Paulie is resigned to a life in the meat factory (yep, THAT meat factory). But the point is, he's trying to move on and face the same shit one just faces in life. Rocky simply lives in the past. Tellin' stories about fights with Creed and things Mickey said, all while grilling up some steaks in his own little "Rocky's" restraunt. And so, round and round the first half of the script goes.

It should be noted though, that the absence of Adrian is sort of liberating in a way. With the death of Mickey and Apollo, the death of Adrian is the next logical step. But also as a narrative device, Adrian has always tended to stop the plot to a grinding halt. In all the movies, her "dont do it/you can do it" mumbo jumbo is what MADE the others so predictable and formulaic. Without her, Rocky and indeed the plot come off a little...lost. But I think Stallone knows what he is doing by doing this. Not since Rocky 1, has a Rocky movie been so much about character study. I get down on the first half of the story only because it is a bit heavy handed and repetitious with the whole "Remember Rocky 1?" motif. Yeah we remember it. How about Rocky VI? But again in theory, Stallone is on the right track. I personally hope the rewrites reflect this.

And then there's the second half. Rocky reapplies for his boxing license, reinvigorated to see that an ESPN computer simulated matchup estimates that Rocky would beat current champ Mason "The Line" Dixon. Holy shit. Mason "the Line" Dixon. Holy shit. What parent would name their kid that? Apparently the same type that would name theirs Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang, Ivan Drago, Tommy Gunn or Union Cane. But given the tone of THIS STORY it just seems a little...gratuitous. Speaking of which, there is indeed a training montage but I somehow doubt we'll get any tacky (though highly motivational) power-rock thrown over this one. Again the tone of this film (aside from the strolls down memory lane) does not scream SEQUEL. I think this will be a different movie. Less self-absorbed, less faithful to the Rocky conventions (in all their tackiness). but shit what do I know. The guys name is Mason the Line Dixon and Rocky is gonna need a training montage to protect himself from getting fucked up.

From here we see how Rocky's renewed course in life affects those around him. Paulie realizes that resigning himself to waste away is not the same thing as "living". He's in, all-or-nothing with Rocky on this final trip. Rocky befriends MARIE and her wayward son. This is the same Marie that Rocky walked home in Rocky 1. This, my friends, is where Stallone brings it home. Thematically, the Rocky/Marie relationship is the point of the entire Rocky story (all six movies). Not Adrian, but little Marie. What did Rocky try to tell her? "They wont remember you, they'll just remember the rep. I'm gonna use a bad word: Whore.../ Screw you Rocky!" Marie has since, blown it. She didn't take his advice. Stallone wonderfully introduces Marie (before we know she's "Marie"): She's a woman who looks like she's made one too many mistakes in her life." She doesn't really act as the replacement Adrian, and appropriately no romantic relationship develops between her and Rocky, but she is the female lead. And her unexpected re-involvement in the story really, to me, spells out the simple point of the whole Rocky saga: It's never too late to start doing something with your life. Or to at least TRY to do start doing something with your life. Paulie and Marie and her son help Rocky on his unlikely way back to the ring.

Some shortcomings: Robert. Rocky's son. What a punk-ass bitch. I wanted to reach into the script and beat the shit out of this guy. Or at least shake him. Hitting is wrong. What a prick. How many times does this guy give his dad the cold shoulder? Inexplicably he's somewhat embarassed by his father. Robert has gone corporate. Totally un-involved with 'the streets' or boxing. He is embarassed by his father's latest stunt to return to the ring, despite the fact that his co-workers think his father is the shiz-nit. Eventually he comes around and joins Rocky's team. Yay. Sort of a forgetable development. AND...

Mason Dixon. He has a little more heart than Apollo but essentially his situation is the same as Apollo's and Union Cane. In fact he seems to be Union Cane from Rocky V redux. Another black champ whose all glam and "got no respect" according to critics. Here I feel, Stallone missed an opportunity. He once again took the road most travelled. Mason isn't a bad guy per se, he's just the same whiny bitch that Union, Tommy, and Apollo were. Like Rocky, he has something to prove, and Stallone nicely hammers that point. But still, one wishes (and by one, I mean me) that Stallone could have whipped up a far different type of contender. Mason need not be a supervillain like Drago or Clubber, and indeed he's not portrayed as such. Stallone writes it as if its two good guys fighting to make the same point. Mason is a little more down-to-Earth than Apollo. He's not an angry young buck. But if Stallone wanted to pair Rocky up against another decent guy, why not throw out all the rest of the cliches that hobble Mason? Aren't there ever any motivating factors for a black athlete in the Rocky movies other than "respect". It's been done to death.

AND.....SPOILER SPOILER

Rocky doesn't die. In this draft, the fight comes to a standstill just like in Rocky 1 (nice touch). Mason breaks his hand during the fight but fights on. This is wonderful because it gives Mason some heart. Oh and Clubber makes a cameo as one of the commentators on the fight. Seems that Clubber went on a downward spiral after his loss in Rocky III and has since found Christ. Anyway back to my eventual qualm: Mason wins by decision. That's fine, Rocky made his point. BUT. This whole script sort of lends itself to Rocky dying. I know Stallone initially drafted Rocky to die in Rocky V, and so that idea must still be floating in his head. But Rocky V wasn't building to his death. Was a good move on the producer's part to nix that idea. "Balboa" however deserves that ending. It deals far more with mortality, usefullness, uselessness and at-long-last reunions than any of the other movies. It just feels as if Rocky deserves to go. He wants to be with Adrian. I'm not dead-set on Rocky dying. It just feels that thematically and tonally Stallone could get away with it in this story. And to start cracking jokes about a Rocky VII would unduly undermine the point of "Balboa". But apparently Stallone has shot four endings for the movie. Maybe he'll sneak Rocky's death into one of those and try it out in post.

THE FINAL ANALYSIS

Tighten up Mason's character, tone down on Robert's dickishness, and ease up on the first half with all the Rocky 1/Adrian stuff and Stallone could have a fine Rocky film on his hands. In terms of characterization its second only to Rocky 1. The fight ranks high but more so in an emotional sense rather than a situational one (i.e. Drago). Bottom line I'd say it's better than Rocky V. With the best possible rewrites it could be a more important/interesting/inspiring story than Rocky 2 or 3. Nothing beats the original. And Rocky IV is just fucking out of this world, as we all know. Funny to think the Rocky that I read in Rocky VI is the same guy who went to Russia and wiped Ivan Drago's super-blood from his brow with the American flag. That movie has so much Survivor pumping through it's balls-to-the-wall "I'm gonna get you" veins that I don't think anything compares. Holyshit. I'm gonna go watch Rocky IV right now. Till then, don't fear for "Rocky Balboa". It's going to be okay"."